The Debt of Tears

by Cao Xueqin

  ‘Sister-in-law,’ pleaded Bao-chai, ‘Mother only came because she heard the two of you fighting. If she seemed to be blaming you, and didn’t distinguish between you and Moonbeam, it’s only because she was upset. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it. Wouldn’t it be better to explain whatever it is that’s troubling you, and all of us try to get along peaceably together? Poor Mother, we’re worrying her to death.’

  ‘Yes,’ added Aunt Xue, ‘before you start accusing me, kindly explain what the trouble is.’

  ‘You’re such a saint, aren’t you!’ said Jin-gui, addressing herself to Bao-chai. ‘I’m sure a fine lady like you will marry a gentleman and live in a nice home – not like me, stranded here, trampled under foot, taken advantage of by all and sundry! I might as well be a widow! What a fool I am! Don’t judge me too harshly. I’m only a poor father- less creature that’s never been taught any better. And I’m sure you’d rather I spared you the sordid details of what goes on in here between my husband and his various womenfolk!’

  Only the thought of what her mother must be suffering enabled Bao-chai to contain her intense anger and shame at these words.

  ‘Sister-in-law,’ she pleaded, ‘please don’t say any more. No one is judging you, no one is taking advantage of you – we never did with Lily and of course we don’t with you.’

  At this Jin-gui started whacking the side of the kang and shrieked at the top of her voice:

  ‘Lily! How could I ever compare with her? I’m not worth the ground she treads on, am I? She’s been here longer than I have, she understands you and knows how to butter you up, and I don’t, I’m just a newcomer! I know! There’s no need to remind me of it! But remember, we can’t all be Imperial Concubines; you’d better watch your step and make sure you don’t end up like me, married to a great half-baked booby, left in the lurch for all the world to mock at!’

  Aunt Xue could contain herself no longer and rose to her feet:

  ‘I am not just defending her because she is my daughter; she has tried her best to make peace with you but you seem quite determined to provoke her. Whatever your trouble is, leave the poor girl alone! If you have to punish someone, why not strangle me instead?’

  ‘Please don’t you get angry too, Mama,’ begged Bao-chai. ‘We only came to try and help. If all we’re going to do is make things worse, I honestly think we should go. Let’s give her time to think it all over. And don’t you go causing any more trouble either!’ This last remark was addressed to Moonbeam.

  And so the two of them left and returned to their own apartment. As they crossed the courtyard, they saw one of Lady Jia’s personal maids coming out to greet them with Caltrop.

  ‘Which way did you come?’ asked Aunt Xue, adding: ‘I hope Lady Jia is well.’

  ‘Very well, thank you ma’am,’ replied the maid. ‘Her Old Ladyship asked me to send you her best regards, to thank you for the lychees you sent the other day, and to congratulate Miss Qin on her engagement.’

  ‘How long have you been here?’ asked Bao-chai.

  ‘Quite a time,’ was her reply. The colour rose in Aunt Xue’s cheeks when she realized how much the maid must have overheard.

  ‘I’m afraid we’ve been having some dreadful scenes here recently,’ she said. ‘We must be a laughing-stock over on your side.’

  ‘Oh ma’am, it’s nothing serious,’ said the maid. ‘Every family has its little troubles. That’s as natural as plates clinking in a picnic-hamper. You’re worrying too much.’

  She went inside with them and sat for a while before returning to Grandmother Jia’s.

  A moment or two later, Bao-chai was busy giving Caltrop some instructions when suddenly Aunt Xue cried out:

  ‘Ai! My chest!’

  She lay down on the kang, sending Bao-chai and Caltrop into a great state of panic. But if you wish to know the outcome, you must turn to the next chapter.

  Chapter 84

  Bao-yu is given an impromptu examination, and his betrothal is discussed for the first time

  Jia Huan visits a convulsive child, and old hostilities are resumed

  Bao-chai diagnosed her mother’s sudden pain as an upward movement of humour from the liver into the chest, brought on by the recent scene with Jin-gui. Without waiting for a doctor, she sent a servant out instantly to buy a few drams of Woody Vine Hooks, and made a strong brew for Aunt Xue to drink. Then Caltrop helped administer a leg-pummelling and chest-massage. The pain eased a little; but Aunt Xue’s anger at Jin-gui’s outrageous behaviour, and her distress that Bao-chai should have had to submit to such humiliation, continued unabated.

  Eventually, after another dose of daughterly reasoning, she fell asleep, and the humour was given a chance to subside.

  ‘Now please don’t worry any more, Mama,’ pleaded Bao-chai, when she awoke. ‘In a day or two, when you feel up to it, why not go over and see Lady Jia and Aunt Wang? It would do you a world of good. Caltrop and I can take care of things here while you’re away. And I’m sure there will be no more trouble from her.’

  Aunt Xue nodded.

  ‘Perhaps I will in a couple of days.’

  *

  The news finally arrived that Yuan-chun had recovered, and everyone in the Jia family was greatly relieved. A day or two later a party of eunuchs arrived from the palace with a consignment of presents and parcels of money. They announced that it. was Her Grace’s wish to reward the family for the diligence they had shown in visiting her during her Indisposition. The eunuchs handed over the carefully labelled gifts one by one. Jia She, Jia Zheng and the other menfolk went in to report to Grandmother Jia, and then all returned to express their thanks for the largesse. When the eunuchs had drunk their tea and gone, there was a family gathering in Grandmother Jia’s apartment. After a few minutes, while they were still chatting, an old serving-woman came in with a message:

  ‘The pages have reported that there’s a visitor at the other side on important business for Sir She, milady.’

  With Grandmother Jia’s permission, Jia She left to see to his own affairs. When he had gone, she suddenly thought of something and her face lit up with a smile.

  ‘It’s so touching,’ she said, turning to Jia Zheng, ‘the way Her Grace remembers Bao-yu! The other day she made a point of asking about him.’

  ‘Her solicitude,’ replied Jia Zheng with a sarcastic smile, ‘is as generous as it is undeserved. Increasing idleness is the only fruit that young tree will ever bear.’

  ‘But I gave him a glowing report!’ protested Grandmother Jia. ‘I said how well he was doing at his compositions.’

  ‘I only wish it were the truth,’ said Jia Zheng with a crushing smile.

  ‘But you and your friends are always asking him to write verses and things for you – I’m sure he’s making progress, whatever you say. He’s still young, be patient with him. “A single spoonful never made a bouncing babe,” as the saying goes.’

  Jia Zheng affected a dutiful smile.

  ‘Yes, Mother.’

  ‘Which brings me,’ the old lady continued, ‘to the other thing I want to talk about. Now that Bao-yu is growing up, it’s time you and his mother started thinking seriously of choosing a nice wife for him. Marriage is going to be a most important step in his life. We needn’t worry too much how closely related to us she is, or how much money they’ve got; but we must be sure that she’s sweet-natured, and a pretty sort of girl.’

  ‘Thank you for reminding me, Mother,’ replied Jia Zheng rather stiffly. ‘But although of course I appreciate the importance of choosing a suitable bride, the first step, as I see it, must lie with Bao-yu himself. Without a marked improvement on his part, any alliance we might hope to arrange would be doomed, and would certainly be a regrettable error for the young lady concerned. His present shiftless attitude can only spell matrimonial disaster.’

  His response did not please Grandmother Jia.

  ‘I know that it’s your decision!’ she replied testily, ‘and that I’m an interfering old
busybody! But let me say just this: even if I did rather spoil him when he was little, and even if he isn’t quite as grown-up and responsible as you think he ought to be, I still think he has always been a nice, well-mannered, honest boy. I think you’re quite wrong to treat him as a ne’er-do-well, or as some sort of threat to a young girl’s happiness. He’s not like that at all. Oh perhaps I am prejudiced! He’s preferable to young Huan, anyway. Or would you like to correct me there as well?’

  Jia Zheng was by now feeling extremely uncomfortable. ‘You are of course by far the more experienced judge of character, Mother,’ he replied swiftly. ‘You may be right in thinking that fate has favoured him. Perhaps it is my own – how shall I put it! – impatience to detect a sense of purpose in the lad that has made of me a crabbed old father, and of Bao-yu the – eh – “crab-apple of my eye”?’

  The labour required on his part in the manufacture of this sparkling piece of verbal merriment did not quite nullify its object, viz. the humouring of the old lady, and she smiled, whereupon the other ladies contributed a polite round of laughter.

  ‘Yes,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘and don’t forget how much older you are. It’s that and your experience as a civil servant that have made you so mellow and wise.’

  She turned to Lady Xing and Lady Wang with a formidable glance and went on mischievously:

  ‘If you could have seen him when he was a boy! He was quite impossible! Far worse than Bao-yu! It was only marriage that taught him a thing or two about life. And now he won’t stop complaining about poor Bao. If anything, the boy is more mature for his age than his father was.’

  The ladies thought this assault on the bastion of Jia Zheng’s dignity a great joke, and started laughing and calling Grandmother Jia a tease. Then the junior maids came in and informed Faithful that lunch was ready to be served.

  ‘Speak up!’ called out Grandmother Jia, her good humour quite restored. ‘Let me in on the secret!’

  Faithful smiled and passed on the message.

  ‘Well in that case,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘everyone can go home for lunch, except Feng and Cousin Zhen’s wife. I’d like them to stay and keep me company.’

  Jia Zheng, Lady Wang and Lady Xing waited until lunch was served and then, after a few more prods from the old lady, they left and went their separate ways.

  *

  On their return, Jia Zheng, in the course of conversation with Lady Wang, brought up the subject of his recent contretemps with Grandmother Jia:

  ‘How Mother idolizes that boy! If only he can do well enough to scrape through his exam, then she will have something to feel proud of, a return for all her love, and he will have something to offer in the event of his marriage.’

  ‘How true!’ concurred Lady Wang.

  Jia Zheng sent a maid out at once with the following orders for Li Gui:

  ‘Tell Bao-yu I wish to see him this evening. Instead of coming to see me after school, he is to have his dinner first and come straight to my study afterwards. There are some questions I wish to put to him.’

  Li Gui intercepted Bao-yu on his way home from school that afternoon, just as he was about to go in and pay his respects to his father. Bao-yu seemed thunderstruck by the ominous summons; he went to see Grandmother Jia, hurried back to Green Delights, ate a scanty meal, quickly rinsed his mouth and set off again for his father’s apartment.

  Jia Zheng was waiting for him in the inner study. Bao-yu entered, made his bow and stood attentively to one side.

  ‘As you know,’ Jia Zheng began, ‘I have been rather preoccupied recently and have not had an opportunity to question you on the progress of your studies. Let me see, I recall that the Preceptor had set you a month for revision, after which time he was to give you your Maiden Theme. That must have been at least two months ago. You should have made a start by now, I think.’

  ‘I have, sir,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘I have written three compositions. I have been waiting for my work to improve before venturing to trouble you with any specimens of it. Those were the Preceptor’s instructions, sir.’

  ‘What were your first three Themes?’

  The first was from Analects, sir, Book Two,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘ “Annos Quindecim natus: The Sage Bent upon Learning in his Fifteenth Year.” The second was also from Analects, Book One: “Obscuritatem Aequo Animo Toler-atam: Lack of Acclaim Borne with Equanimity.” And the third was from Mencius, Book Three, Part Two: “Tunc Accedunt Micium: They Succumb to the Mician Heresy.” ’

  ‘And have you kept your draft versions?’ asked Jia Zheng.

  ‘I have fair copies of all three, sir, with the Preceptor’s emendations.’

  ‘Are they at home, or in the schoolroom?’

  ‘In the schoolroom, sir.’

  ‘Then have someone go and fetch them at once. I should like to see them.’

  Bao-yu sent an ‘express’ message through to Tealeaf: ‘Go to the schoolroom; in the drawer of my desk is a thin bamboo-paper copybook with Tasks written on the cover. Bring it here, quickly!’

  In a short while Tealeaf returned with the book, which he handed to Bao-yu who presented it to his father. Jia Zheng opened it at the first page and began reading the first of the eight ‘legs’ of Bao-yu’s Maiden Task.

  AMPLICATIO PRIMA

  THEMA: ANNOS QUINDECIM NATUS

  CRUS PRIMUM: APERTURA

  Sapiens perfectusque Vir

  a puero quidem

  se ad Philosopbiam applicavit.

  Jia Zheng glanced at the emendation and asked Bao-yu to construe his Apertura orally. Bao-yu began:

  ‘The Sage, while still a boy… forsooth… was wholly Bent upon Learning.’

  Jia Zheng looked up.

  ‘Your use of puer betrays an inadequate comprehension of the Theme. I see the Preceptor has substituted the annos quindecim natus of the original. Good. Pueritia, you see, covers the whole span of boyhood up to and including the age of sixteen, whereas here the Sage is alluding to specific milestones in his own life. We must echo the numbers he uses, if we are to preserve the correct sequence of his moral and intellectual development.’

  Jia Zheng continued with the second ‘leg’.

  CRUS SECUNDUM: CONTINUATIO

  Tantam autem Applicationem

  Rarissimam esse confiteor.

  ‘And what,’ he asked with a shake of the head, ‘do you mean by this?’

  ‘That the Sage’s application,’ replied Bao-yu, ‘is a thing ordinary mortals scarcely ever achieve.’

  ‘Childish nonsense, my boy! It only shows what a creature of indolence you are. I am glad to see that the Preceptor has rewritten the entire Continuatio for you. Kindly construe, from “omnibus enim”.’

  Bao-yu obliged:

  ‘For many are those who aspire to Learning. But how few alas possess the application necessary for the fulfilment of this Aspiration. Does not the Sage’s achievement testify to the strength of his Moral Convictions in his Fifteenth Year?’

  ‘I thank you. I trust you understand the emendation?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Jia Zheng passed on to the second Theme:* ‘Lack of Acclaim Borne with Equanimity.’ Jia Zheng read the Preceptor’s emended version, translating to himself as he went along:

  ‘If a man is able to view Worldly Acclaim with Equanimity, nothing can affect his Pleasure and Delight’.

  He screwed up his eyes to decipher Bao-yu’s original:

  ‘What’s all this? “Equanimity is the Essence of Scholarship.” You have completely failed to treat the first element in your Theme, Obscuritas, and have embarked prematurely on a discussion of Nobilitas which should be kept for a later section. Your Preceptor’s emendation shows a correct Dispositio. I hope you notice the way in which he uses Amoenitatem Delectationemque Animi to allude to the passage in Analects immediately preceding the rubric? Do you recall? Nonne quidem amoenum? Nonne quidem delectabile? You must study this sort of thing carefully.’

  First Theme – reiterate need for Youthful Zeal.


  Second Theme – clarify point raised during second day’s oral exegesis, viz. Worldly Success versus Moral Achievement.

  Third Theme – Orthodoxy versus Heresy.

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Jia Zheng went on to read Bao-yu’s Continuatio. There was another reference here to the Essence of Scholarship, which had once again been emended by the Preceptor to Pleasure and Delight.

  ‘The same fault as in your Apertura,’ commented Jia Zheng. ‘The emendation is tolerable. Not particularly stylish, but clear.’

  He moved on to the third and last Theme: ‘The Mician Heresy’. As he recollected the provenance of the quotation, he looked up in surprise and after a moment’s thought asked Bao-yu:

  ‘Have you reached this far in Mencius?’

  ‘Yes sir,’ Bao-yu hastened to assure him. ‘The Preceptor decided to go through Mencius with me first, as it is the easiest of the Four Books. We finished the whole of Mencius three days ago, and now we are doing Analects Part One.’

  Jia Zheng continued reading. By the time Bao-yu had come to write this third composition, he had more or less mastered the ‘ignoble art of the Octopartite’, and had learned to handle the necessary rhetorical constructions with a certain glib dexterity. Jia Zheng studied the first two ‘legs’, and observed that in this case the Preceptor had paid the young essayist the compliment of a total suspension of the corrective brush. The Apertura lamented the fact that those who rejected the Hedonist Doctrine of Yanxius (Yanxianam illam Voluptatis Doctrinam) were still unable to find the True Path of Confucian Orthodoxy (Orthodoxiae Confucianae Veram Viam), but were instead blindly drawn into the fold of that prevalent (and deplorable) Mician Heresy of Universal Love (Micianam illam Caritatis Universae Heterodoxiam).

  ‘Nicely put,’ Jia Zheng commented, and continued reading. A little further on he paused. ‘Tell me,’ he asked, evidently impressed by what he read, ‘did you write this unaided?’